Some movies are essentially indescribable, at least in terms of genre, type or even effect. Such is the case with American Hustle, David O. Russell’s new exploration of the 1970s. On the surface it is a very loose interpretation of the federal ABSCAM investigation (I would term it a scandal rather than an investigation), and people have told me they think it is a comedy. Certainly comedic aspects are present, yet I rarely laughed and was rarely amused; the whole thing seems far more tragic than comic (which is probably the point).
Russell is great working with actors and he has some good ones here. Christian Bale has perhaps the worst hair ever but creates a genuinely personable con man with a conscience. Amy Adams is smoking hot and razor sharp as a British con artist with a secret past. Bradley Cooper is energetic and dynamic as a madly ambitious federal agent who thinks he can put everyone in jail. Jeremy Renner is smooth and suave as a smart politician who makes a very foolish arrangement. Jennifer Lawrence is smoking hot as a dopey blonde who has her talons all the way into Christian Bale. Louis C. K. is sympathetic as a wisely pragmatic agent who has no control over Cooper. Michael Pena deadpans his way through a dual role as an FBI agent and a sheikh. Even Robert De Niro pops in as a steely gangster.
The story is sort of all over the place at first, even narrated by several of the various characters, until things settle into what becomes the ABSCAM situation, which it is actually identified at one point. The real names of the U.S. Congressmen and Senator who were pinched have been changed for legal reasons, but the situation seems to follow what actually occurred. It’s interesting enough, but I didn’t care about the political stuff. What interests me are the evolving relationships between the main characters as the risks get higher and the doom factor becomes inevitable. And Russell manipulates all of this very well.
American Hustle is a neat character piece, allowing for some real acting opportunities and risks, and of course the resulting rewards. It is a kaleidoscopic glimpse back at the seventies with its cool cars, weird hair obsessions and silly fashions. It is a high-intensity catwalk for the smoldering beauty of its female stars, and will doubtless live on eternally for that reason alone. It is a long (138 minutes) but rewarding film that is not as focused as it could be, nor is it perhaps as meaningful as it should be, but is surely original and entertaining. ☆ ☆ ☆. 4 January 2014.